Highway Crossroads Makes Sacramento Magnet for Truck Accidents

Sacramento’s highways facilitate access to unique destinations like Lake Tahoe, Reno, and San Francisco. Droves of people make the pilgrimage from the Bay Area every weekend to go skiing, hiking or snowboarding in Tahoe. Likewise, small town folks often like to head to the city for a taste of nightlife on the weekend. In fact, Sacramento and surrounding towns like Roseville and Folsom serve as affordable bedroom communities for people who commute to the Bay Area every day.

The city of Sacramento lies almost at the point where Interstate 5 and Interstate 80 intersect. Highway 99 and Highway 50 run right through the city as well, but these are only four of the ​67 state highways​ that run through District 3. The only district with more highways is District 4, covering the Bay Area.

Where There are Trucks, There are Truck Accidents

On top of the recreational and commuter traffic, there is heavy commercial truck traffic on the interstates. This probably explains why Sacramento is home to three of the top 250 freight bottlenecks in the nation. A single truck accident on the freeway can hold up traffic for hours. Though speeding is the second most hazardous factor on the road, distracted driving isn’t far behind. When traffic slows, drivers are more likely to text or engage with other distractions.

What if I AM a Trucker?

Drivers sometimes face unfair discrimination due to the popular opinion that truck accidents happen because he or she was on drugs, or fell asleep at the wheel. However, many truck accidents are caused by careless passenger car drivers, or a failure of the truck’s airbrakes to operate correctly. Trucking companies have a responsibility to maintain mechanical equipment, enforce safe policies, and comply with state labor laws. The company may be liable if you were injured in an accident due to the company’s negligence in one or more of these areas.

If you’ve been injured in a Sacramento truck accident, you should know that these cases can be very complex. Contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer will maximize your chances of getting a fair settlement. He or she will establish who was at fault, whether it was the truck driver, the trucking company, a mechanic, or manufacturer. It is important that you do not talk to the trucking company or an insurance company right after the accident.